The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-08-18
THE REVISED VERSION.
What Was Expected OF It--Reasons Why
1t Failed to Become Popular.


Six years have passed since the revised yer.
sion of the New Testament was given TO the
English speaking world For almost a de
cade attention had been directed to the place
where the scholars in charge of the great un.
dertal;ing We're pursuing their work It's
completion was regarded as an epoch in re-
igiouo history. Many believed that millions
would be interested in the new version who
had never carefully studied the old Some
thought that it would result in general re-
vival of religion. The translation was almost
universally commended by biblical scholars
and theologians, Great praise was bestowed
on the men who were so long engaged on the
difficult work. Large sums were offered Tor
early copies The number sold during few
months was enormous
But the revised version failed TO SIpersede
the old one IL has never been synodically
approved by the established Church of Eng
land that took the initiative in its produc-
ton. 1t has never been formally adopted by
any Protestant denomination for use in
churches and Sunday schools. 1t Is rarely
read at family devotions Few writers or
speakers, lay or clerical, quote it. 1t may
almost be said to have passed out Of sight and
mind. Why was it doomed to such failure?
Mr. John Fulton undertakes to answer the
question in the current number Of The
Forum. The reasons he assigns are that too
many changes were introduced to suit some
and not enough to satisfy others. He also
thinks that the poetry Of many passages was
impaired by giving them too literal transla- |
ton. A certain degree of obscurty serves to |
give charm to the expression Of poetical |
sentiments. No one Is pleased with a likeness
of a person made by measuring his features
and reducing them TO a certain scale.
These things may have had something to
do with preventing the new version from be-
coming popular. But obviously other causes
to its failure. Persons who are
radical or progressive on other matters are
apt to be very conservative on everything
that pertains to religion. Then certain ven
GRAFTON attaches to the authorized version of
King James as well as to the subject matter
itself. In every household the old family
bible, in which are recorded the births, mar
riages, and deaths Of several generations, is
sacred book. If neglected at other times, it
IS read on occasions of affection and adversely
Consolation is sought from it. The noblest
sentiments cluster around it.
Thousands of passages from the old or es-
ablished version have been incorporated into /
he classic literature Of the language, and they !
annot be revised Still more passages have
'een engraved on tombstones, and none but ,
vandal hand would erase them, for to do SO :
would be sacrilege. Old and well loved y.
lymns abound in phrases taken from the old =
'ersion, and they cannot be changed to con-
orm to the new translation without destroy
ng their melody. The old version must re-
main, for it exists in many forms. 1t will !
'nly go out of use when the English language
eases to be spoken. 1t will live and help pre- :
erve the fierce and vigor of the language of
liberty. Chicago Times.